National Waiters' Day 2014 to take place on 25 September
This year's National Waiters' Day is set to take place on 25 September.
The main event on the day will be a Waiters' Race through Hyde Park at 4pm, which will see front of house staff battling to be the fastest in their trade while balancing a glass and a bottle of water on a tray all the way to the finish line.
The day is the brainchild of Fred Sirieix, general manager of Galvin at Windows, and is organised by industry charity Springboard. It aims to celebrate all front of house staff, from fine dining waiters, to mixologists and baristas, and change the perception of front of house and service from an unskilled job to one that offers a rewarding career.
Last year saw the very first National Waiters' race, in which more than 100 people competed. Antonio Forte from Galvin at Windows was the first man over the finishing line and Natalia Chmielewski won the ladies' race.
Meanwhile, Joao Correa claimed the award for the Best Dressed Waiter/ Waitress.
National Waiters Day aims to change the perception of front of house and service as an unskilled job working long hours to one that offers good skills and leads to a rewarding career with good progression routes and amazing rewards.
It sets out to make people aware of the vast range of job roles and careers in the industry as well as increasing professional status.
According to Springboard, National Waiters Day aims to raise the profile of "the world of waiters" by engaging with inspired people from hospitality businesses all over the country in activities which "showcase it as a great profession, leading to great careers and great progression routes, with fantastic rewards - and with opportunities to help combat youth unemployment particularly and unemployment generally".
The day demonstrates the values of the profession with a range of activities and events across the UK - from job shadowing, skills challenges, educational activities and special offers along with the Waiters Race.
To find out more about this year's National Waiters' Day, go to: www.nationalwaitersday.com.
